What is the process for amending the Constitution?

• A. A majority vote in Congress
• B. A two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures
• C. A national referendum
• D. An executive order

Answer: (B)

The process for amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V of the document itself. It requires a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, demonstrating substantial support from Congress, which reflects a strong consensus for the proposed amendment.

Once an amendment is approved by Congress, it must then be ratified by three-fourths (currently 38 out of 50) of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states. This two-step process ensures that amendments are not made lightly and require widespread agreement both at the federal and state levels, reinforcing the idea of federalism in the United States.

This method has been deliberately designed to make the process rigorous, as constitutional amendments fundamentally alter the supreme law of the land, and thus require a significant level of support to take effect. The other options listed do not represent the established method of amending the Constitution.